Northside Youth Enrichment Fund Accepting Grant Applications

Nov 15

Northside Funders Group (NFG) is pleased to announce that the Northside Youth Enrichment Fund (NYEF) is now accepting applications with an available pool of $180,000. The application will be open from November 15, 2024 through January, 13 2025.

BACKGROUND

In 2022, the Northside Funders Group (NFG) engaged in a series of listening and co-design sessions with youth, teachers, families, school administrators, and organizations serving youth to help us shape a new funding opportunity for new and existing youth enrichment opportunities on the Northside. The result was the launch of the Northside Youth Enrichment Fund (NYEF). NYEF supports Northside projects that expand learning by connecting young people to exceptional enrichment opportunities in and outside of the classroom. A youth-led grantmaking committee reads, reviews and ultimately will award between 12-15 grants in this round of the NYEF. New this year, a youth intern will co-facilitate the review process alongside NFG Managing Consultant, E. Coco.

Watch this brief video showcasing the purpose of the Northside Youth Enrichment Fund and the youth-led grantmaking process NFG has committed to!

FUNDING OPPORTUNITY DETAILS

PRIORITY CONSTITUENCY: North Minneapolis Students/Youth ages 10-20
PURPOSE: To support expanded learning opportunities by connecting Northside youth to exceptional enrichment opportunities inside and beyond the classroom.
ELIGIBILITY: Proposed projects may be directly connected to Northside schools (district, charter or private); or they can engage with youth outside of the formal schooling system (i.e., via 501c3 or for-profit organizations).
GRANT SIZE: Up-to-$15,000 - we anticipate making between 12-15 grants from this pool.
GRANT TYPE: Project
TOTAL AVAILBLE FUNDS: $180,000

DECISION-MAKING PROCESS AND AWARD TIMELINE

A committee including Northside youth will review and make funding decisions. This committee will meet to review grants and make decisions in late February, 2024. We anticipate communicating decisions to applicants by March 2025.

KEY DEFINITIONS

Northsider: Anyone who lives, works, goes to school in North Minneapolis. Projects based in and/or serving a majority Northside constituency and individuals who contribute positively to North Minneapolis.

Enrichment Opportunities: Projects, initiatives and programs supporting access to experiences otherwise out of reach for Northside youth. Examples include school trips, mentorship, specialized equipment (i.e. cameras, uniforms, instruments) and more.

PAST NYEF GRANTEES